Shock-absorbing spring.



N. W, KAUNITZ.. SHOCK ABSORBING SPRING, PPLIUATIQN FILED DEC. oA 1911.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

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.Application filed Qecember 1521i. Serial fato,v @6s-,Stir

b all wim/m. it may concern f a subject ot the King of Sweden, residingat l'loquiam7 in the county ot' Chehalis and State of lVashington7 haveinvented certain new and useful linprovenients in Shock-Absorbing'Springs, of which the following is a specification, reference being' hadto the accompanying' drawings.

This invention relates to shock absorbing springs for vehicles and hasfor its primary object to provide means whereby the durabilityA andetlit-ienev oit such devices is materially increased, and the reboundoit the springs counteracted.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a mainvehicle spring 'of the laminated leat' type, a supplementary spring;arranged above the main spring, and Vmeans interposed between said'niainand supplementary springs to assimilate the re coil or rebound of saidsprings when the load is removed therefrom.

A lfurther object of the invention is to provide main andsuliplcinentary sprin;` elements and an interposed spring` acting in o1position to said spring' elements. and means` connecting; theseveralsprings at their ends for relative movement.

With 'the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of thenovel features of construction, combination and arrangement ot partshereinafter t'ullv described and claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. in whicli- Figure l is a side elevationillustrating' in v improved ,springr applied to an automobile body; 2 isa top plan view ot the spring; Fig'. 3 is an enlarged section taken onthe line 3nd ot' Fig'. 2.

ln the acctnnpanyingr drawings l have illustrated niyinventioniasembodied in the common semi-elliptic form of vehicle spring but it willbe understood that the jf'ollmvinpy descriptionv of the construction andarrange4 ment of the elements also applicable to the three-quarter orfull elliptic springl which is commonly used upon yheavy vehicles.

Referring specifically to the drawings and -1nore particularly to Figs.l to 3 thereof, 5 designates the main spring which is of i laminatedconstruction and consists of a plurality of superimposed spring plates6, said plates successively increasing in length. The ends ot' theuppermost longest spring plate are bent upon themselves to form Be itknown that l, NiLs W. KAoNrrz, l

l under side of the vehicle `l ll and rigidly connects sleeves l forconnection to suitable attaching yolres, which are rigidly secured tothe body frame. 'l

spring 8 is arranged above the main spring l5 in spaced relationthereto. This supplementary spring is also composed of superimposedspring' plates 9 which successively increase in length reL versoly tothe spring,` plates S of the. mainv spring` so that the longest. plateot the supplementary springr 8 is opposed to the uppermost; plate of themain spring-5.Q rllhe longer plate of the supplementarj,7 sp inn' is,however.l appreciably shorter than tlie upper plate of the main spring'and in'its norn'ial conditiondcscribes an arc ofless radius than saidlatter spring plate. lThe extremities thereotl are provided withihe evcsor sleeves l0 and the end portions of the main and supplementsry springs:non

A supplementary .inally exert an upward tension upon the Between thesemain and suppleineiiload. tary spring' elements, a cuunteractinnjspringt' plate 1l .is interposed, said platebeipgg' otl substantiallythe same length as the lowern nost spring' plate of the' supplementaryspring' and havinggi eves or sleeves; l2 formed upon its ends. nconnecting' bolt lil passes centrally through openings provided in theseveral spring plates (il il and the same. rl`he usual axle clip letalso embraces the several spring plates and secures the spring' upon theve-A hicle axle indicated at A in llig. l.

The inain and supplenunitary springs and S and the counteractinze'spring! plate ll are connected by means of suitable clips so that thecud portions thereoi.E artcapable olf independent relative uwveincnt.These connecting clips are clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of theldrawings and each coiuprises in its preferred forni a .pair of Ll-shapedclip members 1in the arms l5 of which-receive between them the edgeportiousothe superimposed spring` plates ti ci? the main spring. the'upper arms l5 being' received isis;

in tht` .sleeves l2 formed on the cups of the counteraoting spring'plate ll. membersv are connected by the bolts 16, the

'arms l5 thereof' being` longitudinally bored to loosely receive saidbolt. Upon the ends of the uppermost bolt 1G the lower ends of theconnecting arms l? are arranged.v upper ends of the arms 1'? areconnected by means of boltU i8 which is disposed through the sleeve10.011 the end et the The ` upon the lovverniost spring plate 9 ot' thesupplement-ary spring 8. The arms 17 are loosely mounted on th'e bolt 16so t-hatvthey are free to rock thereon in the movement of the se'veralspring elements. Suitable nuts 16 and 18 are of course threaded upon theends of the bolts lli and 18 respectively to retain theA same inposition and maintain the several elements connected thereby inassembled relation.

rThe operation of the above described construction is as Vfollows. inthe passage of the vehicle over an obstruction or an uneven gradesurface, the weight of the load main spring 5 places the same undertension, the ends of said spring being forced downwardly. As this mainspring is connected to the supplementary spring 8, said latter spring isalso placed under tension and assists the main spring in assimilatingthe pressure of' the load. The spring plate 1l normally exerts adownward pressure upon the main spring and when the `,ends o'fsaid mainspring,r are subjected to pressure,

the tendency of the spring plate l1 is to straighten out. Upon therebound `crrecoil of the-main and. supplementary springs 'and 8, thedownward pressure of the spring plate 11 counteracts this recoil andprevents the same being transmitted to the veh'ole body, said interposedspring plate also relievin the main and supplementary springs o unduestrain and eliminating liability of breakage of the plates 6 and 9.Dwing to theactthat the clip members are swiveled upon the upper boltsi6, it will be obvionsthat'the connected ends ofthe main andsupplementary.- springs are independently movable. By

means A,of this construction, it will be seen that a very simple,durable and eli'ective shocli Vabsorbing spring for automobiles or otherheavy vehicle' bodies is produced.

From the foregoing it is believed that theconstruction and operation ofmy improved shock absorbing spring will be fully. understood.' Thedevice may be manufactured at but' slightly greater cost than the commonlform of 'such springsr now .in use and provides means whereby theliability of breakage lof the springs is reduced to a minimum. .A

While I-have shown anddescribed the preferredfform and constrnction ot'the. various elements, it will be understood that the invention issusceptible of modification in the form and proportion-thereoi2`Withoutl departing from the essential feature or sacrificing any of theadvantages oi the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is l. A. vehiclespring comprising main and supplementary' spring elements arranged inspaced relation, a counteracting spring element interposed between themain and suinilementary springs to resist the recoil thereof upon therelease of load pressure, and means connecting said main andsupplementary springs und the counleracting spring lo permit ot' theirrelative movement upon the release ot the load pressure. f

Q. A vehicle spring comprising a main spring. a supplementary springarranged above and'in' spaced relation to 'the main spring.v acounter-acting spring plate interposed between the main andsupplementary springs and extending longitudinally upon the main spring,clips embracing the main spring and pivotallv secured to the ends ofsaid interposed spring, and arms pivotally connected to said clips andto the ends of the supplementary spring whereby relative movement ofsaid springs' is permitted under the pressure of the load thereon and inthe rebound of said main spring.

' 3. A vehicle spring comprising a semielliptical main spring, asemi-elliptical supplemental spring arranged above and in spacedrelation to the main spring, a counteracting spring plateninterposedbetween the main and supplemental springs and extending longitudinallyupon said main spring throughout its length, sectional clips arrangedupon the main spring adjacent its ends, said spring being movablethrough the clips, bolts connecting the clip sections above and belowsaid mam spring, the ends of the counteracting spring plate beingloosely connected to the clip sections, arms pivotally connected."to theends of the supplemental spring and to` said clips, and meansrigidlysecuring the main and supplemental springs and the counteracting springplate together at their centers. saidcounteracting spring plate exertinga down- Ward pressure upon the mainlspring and vacting to resist therecoil of the vmain and supplemental springs when the load pressurethereon is released.

ln testimony Whereo" ll hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

' NELS W. KAUNTZ.

itnessesz Anous M. CAMPBELL, Arron KnLLoeG.

